72. The examination of spirits by means of conjugial love

The spirits recently arrived in the spiritual world are examined above all to see if they are hostile to conjugial love. They are brought to places where the sphere of conjugial love passes by, or to chaste married couples. If they then change countenance and show annoyance, and even more if they then have lascivious thoughts, still more if they speak lasciviously, then it is a sign that they are of an infernal disposition; but if they are then glad and happy it is a sign that they are of a heavenly disposition. This is the test whether they belong to heaven or to hell; those who are hostile to conjugial love belong to hell, those who are in favour of it, to heaven.

The color green is almost exclusively used in connection with plants in the Bible, and the meaning is closely connected to the meaning of plants as well. Plants, in general, represent facts, knowledge that we can gather from the world. Green plants are ones that are alive and growing. Since life represents love and goodness, it makes sense that green plants are facts that have the potential for good use. It also indicates that they are the kinds of things we learn through directly through our senses, since to identify green plants we need to actually see the greenness.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 507; Apocalypse Revealed 426; Arcana Coelestia 7691)